End trimming mechanism for cup feed overseaming machines



Aug. 1l, 1931. P. D. Rg-:DCAY 1,818,753

- END TRIMMING MEGHANISM FOR' CUE FEED OVERSEAMING MACHINES y* Filed April 2.0,'1928 4 sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 1l, 1931. l P. D. REDcAY 1,818,753

END TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR CUP FEED OVERSEAMING MACHIiNES Aug.11, 1931. l RUREDCAY 1,818,752.-

END TRIMMING MECHANISM FOR CUP FEED OVERSEAMING MACHINES Filed April 20. 1928 4 Sheets-sheet 5 Aug. 11, 1931. P, D, REDCAY 1,818,753

END TRIMMING MECHANISM. FOR CUP OVERSEAMING MACHINES Filed April 2o. 1928 4 sheets-sheet 4 A ing the overseam at a l5to the said seam.

Patented Aug. 1l, 1931 UNITED STATES AvIIEAUL D. REDCAY, OF PHILAD-EIfII-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO GO'lIEIikliliSIIl-K`v PATENT oFFlcEfzl HOSIERY COMIPANY,l INC., F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ENDTRIMMING MEcHANIsMron CUBFEED ovERsEAMING MACHINES Application ined April eo,

Myfinvention relates to an end trimming mechanism for use -in' ,connection with an everseaming machine of the type known as a cup feed machine. y

The object of the invention is to provide an end trimming mechanism fora machine of the above mentioned type which trims or cuts the ends of the threads forming the joverseam, produced by the needle and looper, vaftersaid Yoverseam has been completed.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide an end trimming mechanism which trims lor cuts the ends of the threads form- A further object of the invention is to provide an end trimming mechanism of the above mentioned character which isl auto- V4maticallyy actuated by the operating devices ',for the stitch forming elements of the `ma chine. ,e v

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

In an overseaming machine ofthe cup ;5" feed type there are employed `twor feed o fabric is positioned between the feed wheels so that it extends 'slightly abovefthe edges of the wheels and a needle carried by a horizontally reciprocating needle bar is caused to ,l be moved. into and out of the materia-l while 55a looper mechanism cooperates with the needle first on one side of the fabric and then` the other, moving over the edge of the fabric'so as to lay threads around the edge of the ma-f terial and thus formk an overedge connectging seam for the piece of fabric being stitched. n

After the overedge 'connecting seam has. been completed by the above stated operar-v ,tion of the stitching mechanism the threads whichhave been used to formfthe seam are cut off at the end of the seam and the fabric removed fromk the' machine. In ordinary practice, the operator of the rmachine does not l r`take the time to cut these threads close to the "seam, but merely clips the threads at any point closely adjacent 192s. vserial y1ra-271,460.

length that happens to be inv the path of the particular cutting means that may be em-A ployed. Insome instances the cutting means employed vis a knife blade secured tothe frame of the machine' adjacent the feed wheels. In other instances the operator uses a separate knife or scissors. l

The haphazard cuttingfof the ends of'thef thread in this manner upon the completion of theoverseaming operation necessitates the further cutting of the same close to the seam by another employee before the fabric'can be'y used or placed upon the market for sale as longas the ends of thread atthe end ,of the seam left there by the operator of the overseaming machine creates an unfinishedfand unsightly appearance if left attached .tothe fabric. l

It is the special purpose of my present in-`r vention to provide a cutting mechanism which` will automatically cut the ends of the threads i forming the overseam, at the end oftheseaxr'xf'y mg operation, close to the Aseam andtherebyy produce acompletely lfinished product-and eliminate the necessity'of a ysecond cftting of" said threads by another operator. 5

The invention consists ysubstantially in :the 4 combination, construction, location and rel-y ative location of the parts all as will bemore fully hereinafter set forth as shownin the' accompanying drawings andfinally pointed i out in the f' claims. i

Iny the drawings,- l, .e y Figure lis a side elevation of anfovelfseaming machine of the cup feed type showing my end trimming mechanism applied thereto.

F ig. Q is a vertical sectional view ofthe: i.

machine showing" the devices for :operating the needle and looper inside elevation and the,`

j relative locationfof parts `of the. elements forming my end trimming mechanismin dotted lines.l t `l I j 1 Fig. '3 is a side elevation of 'another type of overseaming machine showing` myf'end trimming mechanism applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a; broken view in front `elevation of the cut-ting mechanism showing -its posi--y tion on the machine with respect to theposi-f.

tion ofthe looper and one of the feed wheelsrt Vries at its upper end a feed wheel 10.

, the fabric to the stitching mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a broken view in plan of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4.

F ig. 6 is a broken view showing the end trimming mechanism and associated parts in perspective.

Fig. 7 is a detailed broken view of the needle and looper.

Fig. 8 shows broken detail views of the cutting ends of the cutting blades used in my end trimming mechanism.

A ty ical cup feed overseaming machine to whic my end trimming mechanism is applicable lis illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The mechanisms for operating the feed wheels, looper and needle are housed in the casing 1. These mechanisms are designed and constructed to be actuated in timed relation by a main drive shaft2 which is mounted in suitable journals carried by the casing and n which carries a belt wheel 3 at each end thereof.

The operating mechanism for the feed wheels, a looper and needle are illustrated in Figure 2.

At the front of the casing there is a bracket 4 in which is mounted a shaft 5 which carries at its upper end a feed wheel 6. A second bracket 7 is pivoted to bracket 4 at 8. Mounted in bracket 7 is a shaft 9 which (alrie shafts 5 and 9 at their lower ends have intermeshing gears 11 and 12 so that the feed Wheels 6 and 10 may be caused to travel in unison in opposite directions so as to 'feed The shaft 5 is intermittently actuated by a reciprocatin arm 13 which carries friction clutch devices of the usual' well known construction. The arm 13 moves about the axis of the sha-ft 5 as a center and is vibrated by a link 14 which is connected to an arm 15 mounted on a shaft 16 journaled in bearings 17. The shaft 16 at its upper end carries an arm 18 which projects into the casing. The inner end of this arm (not shown) has a ball stud .connection with a link formed as part of an eccentric strap which cooperatesr with an eccentric on the main shaft 2.

The above described mechanism is adapted to'cause the main shaft to positively artuate the feed wheels and is of the usual construction and forms no part of the present iuvention.

The needle 19 is mounted in a needle bar 20 which reciprocates in bearings 21 and 22. The needle bar reciprocates in these bearings in a horizontal plane and causes the needle to move back and forth directly above the upper edges of the feed wheels 6 and 10 and to penetrate the fabric extending above and being fed by the feed wheels. Secured to the needle bar is aA collar 23 which is connected to vlever 24 by link 25. (See Fig. 2.) The lever 24 is adapted to turn freely on a shaft 26 carried by journals in casingir 1. The lever 24 between its ends has a ball stud 27 to which is pivotally connected a link 28. The opposite end of link 28 is formed with an ec centric strap which cooperates with an eccentric on the main shaft 2. As the main shaft rotates the eccentric positively vibrates the lever 24 which in turn through the link connection 25 reciprocates the needle.

The looper is illustrated at 29 and is mounted in a looper rod 30. The looper rod'is sup ported by a double yoke support 31 which carries at each side a stud shaft 32 mounted in journals 33. These stud shafts are in axial alignment and allow the looper rod support to swing so as to move the rod in a vertical plane. The looper rod is reciprocated in the looper rod support 31 by a lever 34. The lever 34 is fulcrumed on the shaft 26 and is adapted to turn freely thereon. The upper end of lever 34 is connected to a ball studV mounted on a sleeve 35 journaled between fixed collars 36 secured to the looper rod. The fixed collars 36 prevent the sleeve 35 from endwise movement but allow the looper rod to turn in the sleeve. The lever 34 has a ball stud which is pivotally 'connected to link 37. The link 37 is connected with an eccentric strap which cooperates with eccen tric 38 on the main shaft.

The rotation of the main shaft through the above described connecting,` mechanism causes the looper rod to be moved endwise in support 31. This end wise movement of the looper rod causes the looper to move from one side of the fabric, being operated on, to the other and lays the threads over the edge of the fabric.

The means for oscillating the looper rod to carry the looper into and out of the needle loop consists of a link 39 which is connected at one end to a stud 40 which is secured to the looper rod 30 and at the other end to an eccentric strap 41 which cooperates with an eccentric on the main shaft 2. Vhen the main shaft rotates the link is moved endwise 4and causes the looper rod to oscillate or work on its own axis.

The looper is caused to be raised so as to carry it over the edge of the material as it moved from one side to the other by the following mechanism. A lever 42 is mounted to rock with a rock shaft-43 journaled in suitable bearings in the casing 1. The lower end of lever 42 is pivoted at 44 to a link 45 which is secured to an eccentric strap cooperatingwith an eccentric on the main shaft 2. The upper endy of lever 42 is pivoted to a link1 46 which in turn is pivoted to a ball stud 47 carried by a collar 48 secured to looper support 31. The pivotal connection between the link 46 and lever 42 moves vfrom one side of a vertical line passing through the fulcrum of the 155 thread tand the body of the looper.

looperis then again raised and swung so as to` '4.5. brush 57.

plete oscillation the looper rodpis lowered and raised twice.v i,

f The above described mechanisms for actud ating the feed wheels, needle and looper c o: operate with each other to move these parts 1nV 105 into the needle loop thrown outby the needle.

The looper in the needle loop is then raised and moved laterally to'the other side of the fabric and then lowered sovthat the needle on I its nextvfstroke passes between vthe looper be withdrawn from the needle loop. The looper is then again carried across the fabric to the other side thereof and is positioned to 2'0? again enter the needle loop. y

The type of machine shown in Fig. 3A oper' ates in substantially the same way except the' outer feed wheel 49 is rotated by a flexible shaft 50 supported in the gooseneck 5l. The

`iiexible shaft 5() is actuated bysuitable gearing cooperating with gearinglsecured to vthe shaft mounted in support 52 (not shown) upon which the rear feed wheel is secured. In this type of overseamingmachine the feed 3'0wheel 49 is moved away from the rear wheel by means of a lever 53 operated by a chain 54 secured to a foot treadle 55., 1

The structures sov far described are or` may be of the usual or any well yknown type or 'j structure andin the specific details thereof formno part of my presentinvention.

.The end trimming mechanism of my present invention is adapted to lbe applied to machines ofthe above described typesand T consists of the following:

l Secured to the ylooper bar 30 byv suitable means as a screw 27 and adapted tooperate in conjunction withthe same, is an Varm 56. Attached to the free end of this arm is a Mounted on the casing l of the machine is the usual stitch tongue support 58 having the stitch tongue 59 securedV to its end in any suitable mannersuch as by screws 60.A During i theoverseaming operation of the needle and looper', the loops vformed by said needle and looper are formed around the stitch rtongue in the usual and wellknown manner and said loops are carried olf the said tongue vas the fabric is progressed by the feed wheels 6 and 10 .Attached to the side ofthe casing l of the machine in any suitable manner such as by 4 screws 61 is a cutting plate 62. The forward 60 portion 62a of said plate is bent so that the end 63 which is formed with a cutting edge provided with a guard 67. The guard is se- 65 cured to the plate at -65 by any suitable means such as screw 66, and also to the casing 1 by screw 66m Said guard is formed with the curvedside portion 68 and a base-.portion 69. The base 'portion extends underneath and beyond the forward end ofthe plate'portion 62a, and is Vbent downwardly as indica?v ed at 70 at its forward end and is also shaped lso that ity may be secured toa supportingpin 7l. The supporting pin 7l also supports the forward end of cutting plate 62 and a cooperating cutting plate 72. The base portion of the guard 67y is'positioned so that it lies adj acent to and parallel with the upper edge of the feed wheel 6 as clearly shown in igs. 4L,

5and6.

Pivotally mounted.onthefsupporting pin` 71'is a movable cutting plate`72. The forward portion 73 `of said plate is bent so that its cutting edge 74extends in cutting relation with the cutting edge 63 of the cutting vplate 62. 'The cutting portion of cutting plate 72 is held in cutting contact with the of guard 67. f

The rear portion75 of thekpi'voted cutting plate 72 extends approximately parallel with the side of theca'sing-and is secured at its end 76 to a 'spring 77 (see Fig. l). One end of the spring 77 is secured to the bearing 17 in any suitable manner such as by a hook 78.

Thezpivoted cutting plate 72 is actuated in any suitable manner by an operating part of the machine. lOne means for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. l. The'rear,

portion'75 o f the pivoted cutting plate 72 is positioned so that it passes through a slot in the bent upportion 80 ofy a lifting lever 79.`

The lifting lever is secured to a collar vfixedly ymounted on the shaft 48. When-the shaft 43is oscillated it causes the lifting lever 7 9 toL raise and lower the cutting plate 72 creating a scissors action betweenrthe cutting edge 7 4E thereof and the cutting edge'63 of the cutting plate 62.

'Inthe operation ofthe end trimming mechanism it vwill be apparent that as, the looper is operated by its several connections to the main shaft 2, the movements imparted thereto will cause ythe,brush'57, mounted on the arm 56 whichis secured to the looper to continuously sweep back and forth vacross the base portion of the guard 67 between the 125 sides 68 thereof and the side portion of guard 82. The movements imparted to the looper,

as pointed out` above, cause it to move forward into the needle loop thrown out by the needle after'the lneedle has penetrated the fabric, afterwhich 'the looper is raised and then moved laterally to the other side of the material where it is lowered and positioned so that the needle on its next stroke will pass beween the looper thread and the body of the looper after which the looper is raised gradually and again swung so as to be withdrawn from the needle loop to permit the setting of the stitch. When the looper is raised and moved laterally to the outside of the fabric the brush l57 is caused to be raised from the base plate and towards the fabric which is passing between the feed wheels 6 and 10. As the looper is then raised and again swung to the inside of the fabric,`

and lowered the brush is caused to be lowered so that it sweeps any thread in its path, between the lower edge of guard 82 and the baseplate 69 of guard 67 and into the path of the cutting edges of the cutting plates 62 and 72.

The oscillating movement of the shaft 43 causes the lifting lever 79 to raise andlower the cutting plate 72 on the pivot pin 71 and the shearing act-ion of the cutting edges 63 and 7 4 of plates 62 and 72 clips the thread swept in their path.

The downwardly curved portion 69 of the base plate 67 and the sides of guard 82 act to prevent the fabric being stitched, from passing into the path of the cutting pla-tes.

It will be seen that as the stitching of the fabric is completed the ends of the stitch threads are brushed into the path of the cutting plates and are then cut off close to the stitched fabric without any special guiding or manipulation of the fabric on the part of the operator of the machine.

In the description of the end trimming mechanism and the several other parts of the machine I have not shown or described the thread control devices for the needle and looper as the present invention is directed solely to the end trimming mechanism and the devices for imparting movement to the parts of same. The thread control devices of the machine are constructed and operate in the usual manner as well known te those skilled in the art.

It is obvious that changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What I ,seek to secure byv United States vLetters Patent is:

nisms, and means for operating the trimming v device from the actuating means of the looper mechanism.

2. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looper mechanism in combination with means for trimming the ends of the thread of the. seam made by said needle and looper mechanism, said means consisting of a stationary cutting member secured to the frame ofthe machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected to said stationary member so as to have a shearing action therewith, and means for actuating said movable cutting member from the operating means of the looper mechanism.

3. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means forfeeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looperI mechanism in combination with means for trimming the ends of the thread of the seam made by said needle and looper mechanism, said means consisting of a stationary cutting member secured to the frame of the machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected to said stationary member so as to have a shearing action therewith, and means for actuating said movable cutting member from the operating means of the looper mechanism and means for guiding the threads to be cut into the path of the cutting edges of said cut-ting members.

4. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle anda looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looper mechanism, in combination with means for trimming the endsof the thread of the seam made by said needle and looper mechanism, said means consisting of feed wheels and a stationary cutting member secured to the frame of the machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected to said stationary member so as to have a shearing action therewith, guards for said cutting members, means for actuating said movable cutting member from the operating means of the looper mechanism and means for guiding the threads to be cut into the path. of the cutting edges of said cutting members.

5. In an overseam sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the sameand means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looperl mechanism in combination with means for trimming the ends of the thread of the seammade by said needle and looper mechanism, said means consisting of a stationary cutting member secured at one end thereof to the frame of the machine and formed with a cutting edge at its other end, a guard secured to said cutting member, a movable member formed with a cutting edge andpivotally secured to said stationary cutting member, means for, maintaining 'said cutting edge of said movable member in shearing contact'with the cutting edge of said stationary member, a'guard for the ends of said cutting members,-me,ans for actuating said movable member from the operating means ofthe looper mechanism and means actuated by the looper mechanism to guide the threads to be out into the pathof the cutting edges of said cutting members.

6. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism,;1neans for actuating the same, and means for feeding the material to be stitched to land from said needle and looper mechanism, in combination with a trimming mechanism fory trimming the ends of the threads of the seam formed by said needle and looper mechanism consisting of a stationary cuttingl member, a movable cutting member pivotally connected thereto, a guard for the ends of vsaid cutting members, means for automatically' actuating the said movable cutting member from the operating means of the looper mechanism and means secured to the looper mechanism and kactivated thereby to guide thethreads to be cut into the path of the cutting edges of said cutting members.A

7, In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and l-ooper mechanism, in combination with a trimming mechanism for trimming the ends of the threads of the seam formed by the said needle and looper mechanism consisting of a stationary cutting member, a movable cutting member co-operating theref with, a guard for said stationary cutting member, a guard for the ends of said cutting members, means actuated by the operating means for the looper mechanism to operate the movable cutting member, means actuated by the looper mechanism to guide the threads to be trimmed into the path of the cutting members.

8. A cutting mechanism for cutting the threads' of an overseaming sewing machine comprising a stationary cutting member secured to the frame of the machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected to said stationary member so as to have a shearing action therewith, means fork actuating said movable cutting member, means for guiding the threads to be cut into the path of the cutting edges of said cutting members and feed wheels for advancing the material.

9. A cutting mechanism for cutting the threads of an overseaming sewing machine, comprising a stationary cutting member secured to the frame of the machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected to said stationary member so. as to have a shearing action therewith, a guard for said cutting members, means for actuatingsai'd movable cutting member, means forv guiding thev threads to be cut into the path of the cutting edges of said cutting members and a feed` wheel' for advancing'the material, the upper Vedge of said feed wheel and theloweredge 0f Sad .guard lying substantially in "the Same plane. .Y .v l

v' 10. 'A cutting mechanism". for cutting. the threads of an'overseaming sewing machine `comprising a ,stationary cutting membervsecured at one end thereof to the frame ofthe machine and formed with a cutting edge at 4its other end, a guard secured to said stationary' cutting member,'a movable cutting member formed with a cutting edgeand pivotally secured. to vsaid stationary cuttingv member, means for maintaining said cutting edge of saidmovable member in' shearing contact with the cutting edge of lsaid Astationary member, a guard for'the ends of said cutting members, meansV l'for actuating said movable cutting member'zfrom the operating means of the overseaming sewing` machine, Aand means for guidingthe threads lto be cut into the path of the cutting edges of said cutting members and a feed wheelV and means coop,- erating therewith for advancing the material.

11. In an overseamingl sewing machine, the combination o'f a needle and looper mechanism, means for operating the same, means for feeding the material to beA stitched to 'and from said needle` and looper mechanism, a

stationary 'cutting member, a movable'cuti60 ting member cooperating therewith, means actuated by the operating means for said looper mechanism tooperate said movable cutting member, means secured to said looper mechanism and actuated thereby to direct the endsy of threads of the seam formed `by said looper and needle in said fabric into the path of the cutting members'. i

12. In an overseaming machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looperamechanism in combination with ymeans for trimmingthe ends of the threads of 'the seam made by said needle and looper 'mechanismsconsistingv of a stationary cutting inem# ber secured to the frame of the sewing machine, a movable cutting member pivotally connected with said stationary cutting member so as to have a shearing action there-y path of theA` cutting edges'of said'cutting members-f fes `combination with trimming mechanism consisting of a fixed cutting blade secured to the frame of the machine, a movable cutting blade pivoted to and cooperating with the said fixed cutting blade, a. lever secured to 4said movable cutting blade and to and operating with an operating shaft for said -looper mechanism, and adapted to actuate said movable cuttingblade, a guard adapted to protect the fabricbeing stitched from be* ing cut by said cutting members, a brush secured to said looper mechanism and operating therewith to brush the threads of the looper and needle mechanisms under said guard and into the path 0f the cutting members.

14. In a sewing machine of the class described, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looper mechanism, in combination with a trimming mechanism f or trimming the ends of the thread of the seam made by the looper' and needle mechanism consisting of a stationary cutting blade secured at one end to the frame of the machine and having a cutting edge formed at its other end, a movable cutting blade pivotally secured to said stationary cutting blade and having a cutting edge formed at one end thereof, a spring secured to the other end of said 1novable cutting blade, and adapted to normally hold the cutting edge thereof in open osition with respect to the cutting edge o the stationary blade, a lever secured to said movable cutting blade and actuated by the operating means of the" looper mechanism to raise and lower said movable cutting blade so that it has a shearing action with said fixed cutting blade, a brush secured to the looper mechanism and actuated thereby so that it will brush the ends of the threads to be trimmed into the path of the cutting edges ofsaid cutting blades, and a guard secured to the cutting members to prevent the fabric from coming intocontact with the cutting members.

15. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle. and a looper mechanism, means rfor actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looper mechanism, in combination with a trimming mechanism for cutting ends of the threads o-f the seam formed by the said looper and needle mechanism, comprising a fixed and a movable cutting member, a lever secured to the movable cutting member and actuated by the operating means of the lo0per mechanism to effect a scissors action between the cutting edge of said movable cutting member and the cutting edge of the fixed cutting member,`means secured to the looper ing the fabric being stitched into the path of said cutting members.

16. In an overseaming sewing machine, a needle and a looper mechanism, means for actuating the same and means for feeding the material to be stitched to and from said needle and looper mechanism in combination with a trimming mechanism for cutting the ends of the threads of the seam formed by the said looper and needle mechanism comprising a fixed cutting member secured at one end to the frame of the machine and having its other end extending adj acent to the means for feeding the material to and from the looper and needle mechanism, a movable cutting member pivotally secured to said fixed cutting member so that its cutting edge has a shearing co-ntact with the cutting edge of said lixed cutting member, a spring for maintaining said movable cutting member in shearing contact with the fixed cutting mem* ber, a guard secured to said fixed cutting member positioned so as to prevent the material being stitched from passing between the fixed cutting member and the feeding means, a guard for the ends of said cutting members adapted to prevent the material being stitched from passing from the feeding means into the path of the cutting members, and a. brush secured to the looper mechanism and operating therewith and adapted to brush the threads to be cut into the path of said cutting members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this seventeenth day of April,

PAUL D. REDCAY.

to prevent the said feeding means from feed- '.270 

